Bottle and test-tube washer



May 18 1926.

G. W. WILSON BOTTLE AND TEST TUBE WASHER Filed sept. 14, 1922 2Sheecs-SheefI l ,c umg-.-.mmm J 7 7 Summon My 1s, 192s.

j 1,584,913 G. W. WILSON BOTTLE AND TEST TUBE WASHER Filed Sept. l4,`1822 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "WHL N www, y

Patented May 1s, 1926.

GEORGE W. WILsoN, on SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

v BOTTLE AND TEST-TUB WASHER.

Application led September 14, 1922. Serial No. 588,188.`

This invention relates to a glassware washing device and moreparticularly to a device which has for its purpose to facilita-te thewashing of glassware used 'in the testing 5 of milk and cream by thewell known Babpock method; also for washing test tubes,

culture tubes, vials, small dilution bottles i and the like used inological'laboratories.

Up to the present time the tedious and unsatisfactory hand method of,washing with brusheshas been generally used for cleaning such bottlesbut, due to the general character of construction of test bottles andtubes,

it is a very dilicult matter to -o'rce water into the bottles or to drythem after being I washed. It has als'o been dicultfto remove scale fromthe Babcock bottles even by brush washing because a brush of suitablesize can not be inserted through the narrow necks of the bottles. Y

i It has therefore been the principal object of this invention toprovide means whereby glassware of the above mentioned character can becleaned and washed rapidly and in vthe most satisfactory mannerwithoutbrushing or. handling in any way. e

More specifically stated the invention resides in the provision of awashing device 30 consisting of a lat topped box or container wherein acleaning solution may be poured and having a plurality of vvertical.tubes of small diameter extending from the top thereof 'over whichy thebottles or tubes to be 35 v'cleaned may be placedand a pipe entering thebox through which steam or-hoi; water may be injected under pressure tofirst cause the discharge of the cleaning solution forcibly through thetubes into the bottles and .40 then the washing and drying by theinjection of hot water and steam. 4

Other objects of the invention reside in the details of construction ofthe various parts of the device which provides 'for both interior. andIoutside washing and for the safety in handling during the washingprocess. A

In accomplishing these objects I have provided the improved details ofconstruction, preferred forms of which are illustrated in vtheaccompanying drawings, wherein--d Figure lis, a perspective view of abottle chemical and bacterinumerals designate the same or -of bottleswhen they and test tube washing device constructed in accordance withthe present invention, the

view being without the box cover.

` Figure 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view` of the same.

f Figure 3 is an enlarged, transverse section of the device.

Referring more in detail to the several views of the drawings where likereference 1 designates a sheet metal box, preferably rectangular inform, with a horizontal top wall, the box b'ing steam and water tight atall points except where outlets are intended. Extending longitudinallythrough the box, centrally between its side walls and preferably nearerthe bottom wall than lthe top, isa pipe 2 which at "one end is closed bya cap 3 and at its other end is connected like parts,

with a/pipe 4 which in turn is connectedwith both steam ,and water pipeswith separate control valves. At spaced intervals along the -undersideof the pipe 2 are small openings can enter the box when the controlvalves are open. y

Since it is desired that the steam and water be injected under pressure,I have prevented possible warping of the box walls by connecting theupper and lower walls ofthe box by means of a series of bolts 7 which A6through which the` steam andfwater Y draw the walls tightly Vagainst theends of sleeves 8 fitted about the bolts.

yMounted on the top wall, centrally of the box. is a vertical back checkvalve 10'and titted-in this is a funnel 1,1 by'means of which a cleaningsolution may be 'poured through thev valve` into the box. The checkvalve is Jfor the purpose of turned intoy the box and a sieveor screen'12 is placed in the funnel to 'prevent any-gr1t or other` solidsubstances from lenterlng the lber orthe like provided with groovesl 15These pads are for v in their upper surfaces; the purpose of preventingpossible breakage are inserted over the preventing discharge f throughthe valve when'v steam or water isi tubes and the grooves in the top ofthe pads are for the escape of Water from the bottles or tubes Whilethey are seated upon the pads. The tubes 13, in most instances, would beof copper about 1/8 in diameter and from 3 to 4 long, depending upon thecharacter of bottle or tube to be Washed.

Between the rows ot' tubes 13, small openings 16 are provided in the topWall et the box through which the washing solution, steam, or Watermaybe discharged. Vhen tubes or bottles are to be Washed they areinverted over the tubes 13 as 'shown in Figures 2 and 3, and thedischarge of the solution through the tubes effects a cleaning ofthe.interior While the spray through the opening 16 Washes the exterior.

During a Washing operation the bottles, indicated at 19, are enclosed bymeans ot a cover Q0 that is placed over the boxV This has slightlylarger dimensions than the box Aso that there will be space for theescape of steam and Water lbetween the two. The cover 2O is supported bymeans ot standards or brackets 21 that are fixed to the top wall atopposite ends of the box and it is provided With a handle 22 whereby itmay be lifted from or placed in position.

Briefly stated, a Washing operation would be as follows: First the 'box1 is lled with a cleansing'solution such as Oakite, lVyandette, GoldDust, or any other standard alkaline Washing compound, which is pouredinto the 'funnel and passes into the 'box past the check valve 10; allundissolved particles of the solution or other foreign mat-ter arecaught by the screen 12; the bottles 19 are then placed over the tubes13 as shown and the cover 20 is placed over the box. The steam controlvalve is then opened which permits the discharge of'steam into the 'boxthrough the pipe openings 6 and this drives the Washing solution fromthe box through the tubes 13 and With considerable force into thebottles. It is drained from the bottles about the 4tubes 13 and throughthe grooves 15 in the top of the pads on which the bottles rest. Afterall the solution has been driven from the tank by the steam, hot wateris then injected for the purpose of rinsing the bott-les, then steam isagain turned on to drive the Water from the tank and from the bottlesand to assist in drying the latter. Y

It is readily apparent that this method of Washing is more satisfactoryand sanitary than the hand method of brush lWashing. lt can beaccomplished more quickly and provides a means whereby scale-or sedimentot any character whatever will be readily cleaned from the bottles andwill leave them absolutely .dry and bright.

The device is also adapted for the Washing 'of test tu-bes and smallybottles of all types and especially is useful for washing test tubescontaining agar and gelatin niedia.

It is further apparent that various changes in the details otconstruction ot the box and the tubes may be made without departing fromthe spirit of the invention and for this reason l do not Iwish to nbelimited only to the details as herein illustrated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A bottle washing device comprising a box-like container with ahorizontal t'op wall provided with a plurality of spray openings, avertical cheek valve on the container, a funnel mounted Aon the valvewhere- Iby a cleaning solution may be delivered through the valve intothe container, a plurality of tubes mounted on the top wall and openinginto the container, over which bottles to be. washed may be placed, apipe leading through the container having discharge ports thereinthrough which water or steam under pressure may be delivered into thecontainer to eilect the ejection of the cleaning solution through saidtubes to Wash the interior of the bottles and through said openings toWash their exterior, and a removable cover for enclosing the bottlesduring Washing operation.

2. A bottle Washing device of the class described comprising a box-likecontainer having a horizontal top Wall provided with a plurality ofspray openings and a plurality of vertical t-u'bes opening into thecontainer over which bottles to be Washed may be placed, a verticalcheck valve mounted in the box, a funnel mounted on the valve whereby aWashing solution may be poured through the valve into the container, apipe leading through the container having a plurality of downwardlyopening discharge ports therein, and having valve connection avith pipesfor delivering steam and water under pressure intethe container toeffect the forcible discharge through the tubes to clean the interior ofthe bottles and through said Wall openings to Wash their exterior, coversupporting means on the container and a cover for enclosing the bottlesduring Washing, removably mounted on thc supporting means.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 8th day of September 1922.

GEORGE lV. VILSON.

